FLINT (Nov. 14, 2022) – Jeremy D. Cornelius knows first-hand the impact of live-saving blood donations for sickle cell disease patients. He’s been the recipient of countless blood transfusions since being diagnosed with the blood disorder at age 2.
“Growing up, I didn’t understand my disease. I understand it in great detail now,” said Cornelius who grew up in Flint and lives in Saginaw. “As a kid I didn’t know why I was always tired. To this day, the words ‘you need to take it easy’ or the words ‘don’t overexert yourself’ are haunting to me. Those are PTSD triggers for me.”
By sharing his story, Cornelius is hoping to raise awareness about the disease, which affects more than 100,000 people in the United States and 20 million people worldwide – most of whom are of African descent. He is also encouraging people in the Black community to roll up a sleeve and give blood at an upcoming blood drive in Flint.
The American Red Cross Michigan Region is hosting a blood drive from 10 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village, 4119 N. Saginaw Street.
The blood drive is part of the Red Cross’ Sickle Cell Initiative launched in 2021 to increase the number of Black blood donors and boost access to matching blood products for sickle cell disease patients. Blood donors who are Black are almost three times more likely to be a match for the blood most needed.
Being able to provide compatible blood types to people is important to the Red Cross mission, said Becky Gaskin, executive director of the Red Cross’ East Central Bay Chapter in Flint, which is coordinating the blood drive.
“These matched blood products provide a more compatible unit for transfusion to patients in need,” Gaskin said. “By identifying a donor’s race and ethnicity, it helps the Red Cross better and more efficiently locate rare blood types to best meet the needs of all patients of all backgrounds.”
Cornelius has vivid memories of an ordinary day being interrupted by a sudden onset of symptoms associated with sickle cell, which can lead to severe pain, tissue and organ damage, anemia, and even strokes. When he was 11, a casual bike ride with friends was cut short. “I didn’t make it around the block,” he said. “My chest felt tight, I couldn’t breathe. I was hyperventilating a little bit. I was just struggling to pedal this bike the rest of the way home.”
As an adult, he sought to shield the disease from work colleagues, fearing it would affect his burgeoning entertainment career. He is the founder of Jer DeCor Fashion/Modeling Company and has trained more than 6,000 models nationally.
Cornelius estimated that he has been hospitalized 600 times in his lifetime to date. Since May 2022 alone, he’s been hospitalized for more than 80 days, he said.
“It affects you heavily,” he said. “You don’t know when it’s going to hit, you don’t know how it will last. You don’t know where you’re going to be when it hits you. It just hits you when it wants, and you just got to deal with it.”
People living with sickle cell disease may require as many as 100 units of blood every year to maintain their quality of life. Live-saving blood transfusions increase the number of normal red blood cells in the body and help to boost blood flow to the rest of the body. Without transfusions, a person’s blood doesn’t flow normally, putting them at risk for serious health complications.
To schedule an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are accepted. Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
Testing for Sickle Cell Trait
At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease. Donors can expect to receive sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at www.redcrossblood.org.
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MEDIA CONTACT: David Olejarz | david.olejarz@redcross.org | 313-303-0606
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.